Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324
Story written by Alex Mielcarz, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant, ajmielcarz@noctrl.edu
DUBUQUE, Iowa (Dec. 30) – After seeing a late lead disappear for the second consecutive night, the North Central College men's basketball team flipped the script as Alejandro Diaz hit a step-back three as time expired in the overtime period to send the Cardinals home with a win over Bethany Lutheran College in the Loras College Holiday Classic.
After trailing by as many as 17 points in the second half, North Central (5-7) clawed its way back to even the score at 77 with just over a minute to play. Seth Cheney and Justin Sveiteris contributed seven posts each in a nine-minute stretch that saw the Cardinals take the lead on two Diaz free throws with 1:41 to play.
Both teams were scoreless until the 16-second mark, as Sean Molloy was fouled in a last-ditch effort by the Vikings to even the score. Molloy hit both of his shots at the charity stripe to give North Central a three-point lead.
Bethany Lutheran's (7-5) Jack Brockmann drove to the cup with time ticking down in regulation. He battled through contact and finished at the rim as he was fouled, allowing him to tie the game up on a free throw attempt after the foul.
With the game knotted up at 80, the Cardinals inbounded with just eight seconds on the clock. Diaz and the Cardinals drove the length of the floor, but a defensive wall from the Vikings prevented the Cardinals from getting any dribble penetration, and Diaz was forced to throw up a three that Brockmann swatted away as time expired.
Bethany Lutheran College jumped out to an early lead in overtime. Will Walter hit a quick three, and Brockmann rattled the rim with two dunks in just over 40 seconds of game time to give the Vikings a 7-0 lead.
The Cardinals got back into the game with free throws from Sean Molloy, Tyler Swierczek and Cheney brought the deficit down to two with 29 seconds to play.
After Cheney's perfect two-for-two trip to the line, North Central coach Vince Kmiec called a timeout and brought the Cardinals out in a press on the ensuing inbound play. The Vikings were unable to get the ball in, as Molloy stole the pass away. Ten seconds later, Molloy drove to the basket, but was unable to get it to go. Diaz was able to grab the offensive rebound and was tied up by a Bethany Lutheran defender. A jump ball was called with the arrow pointing in the direction of the Cardinals, setting up the final dramatic play.
Diaz took a long inbound pass from Molloy on the right wing. With a defender all over him, Diaz took one dribble in towards the top of the key, planted, stepped back, and lifted a 3-pointer with a hand in his face, catching nothing but nylon on the way down. The three was his only make in five attempts from beyond the arc on the evening.
North Central was statistically led by Swierczek's 19 points and seven rebounds on 7 of 13 shooting. Cheney, in his first career start, scored 16 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Molloy and Diaz each added 13 points apiece, while Sveiteris and Surin contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively.
The Cardinals shot 41% from the field and 24% from deep while knocking down 86% of their free throw opportunities. Kmiec's squad was 14 of 16 from the charity stripe in the second half and a perfect 6 of 6 in overtime.
The Vikings were led by Walter, who notched 23 points for Bethany Lutheran. Despite shooting 58% from the floor and 36% from deep, the Vikings shot just 48% at the free-throw line.
The Cardinals are back in Gregory Arena on Saturday, as they resume College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin play with a rematch against North Park at 4 p.m.
